Collapsible or knockdown crate.



JACOB ACKERMAN, OF SPINNERSTOVVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLAPSIBLE OR KNOCKDOWN CRATE.

No. s14,5oo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

- Application filed April 11, 1905. Serial No. 254,936.

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAooB AOKERMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spinnerstown, in the county of Bucks and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollapsible or Knockdown Crates; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to collapsible or knockdown crates; and its objectis to provide a simple and durable device of this character all portionsof which are permanently connected, but which can be folded and lockedinto a compact bundle and which can be quickly set up and utilized forholding eggs or other articles.

Another object is to provide novel means for locking parts of the cratewhen set up, so as to hold them rigidly connected and capable ofwithstanding rough usage.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of acrate comprising a base and end and side walls. The end walls areadapted to fold inward and to be overlapped by the sides, which arehinged to the base at different elevations. The top of the crate ishinged to one of the side walls in such a manner as to be capable offolding backward thereon when the crate is collapsed. Means are employedfor locking the parts of the crate in folded position, and additionalmeans are utilized for securing the end and side walls together when thecrate is set up.

The invention also consists of the further novel constructions andcombinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, and pointed outin the claim.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred forms of myinvention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the cratecollapsed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the means used for securing the end and side wallstogether; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the locking-lever of saidsecuring means, the retaining part thereof being removed.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is the base of thecrate, having end flanges 2 and side flanges3 and 4, which are ofdiiferent heights, flange 4 extending above flange 3 a distance equal tothe thickness of one of the side walls of the crate. These side walls 5and 6 are connected to the flanges 3 and 4, respectively, by means ofhinges 7, which are so. disposed as to permit said walls to swing inwardover the base 1. 1 End walls 8 are similarly connected to the endflanges 2 by means of hinges 9, and one of these end walls is providednear its upper end and with in the side edges with recesses 10, whichare for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Angular straps 11 are securedto the upper edge of the wall 6 and are supported thereon, and thesestraps are connected by links 12 with leaves 13, which are secured uponthe top 14 of the crate. The links 12, as well as the ad joining ends ofthe straps connected to them, are disposed within grooves 15, which areformed within the adjoining edge of the crate top 14. A retaining-plate25 is secured to each end of each side wall, and a lever 26 is pivotedto it, said plate serving to hold the lever in a groove 27, formed inthe crate-wall. The lever 26 has an angular head 28, and a spring 29 isemployed for causing said head to automatically engage a hook 30,secured to the end wall 8. One wall of each groove 27 is cut away, as at31, so as to enable a finger to be inserted thereinto to press on lever26 and release it from the hook 30. A hasp 21 may be used for securingthe top 14 when the crate is set up. Eyes 23 extend from the ends of top14, and hooks 24 extend from the end flanges 2. y

WVhen it is desired to collapse the crate herein described, the top 14is raised and swung around upon the outer face of side wall 6. Levers 26are then disengaged from hooks 30. The end wall containing grooves 10 isnext swung inward upon the base 1, and the other end wall is swung intoposition thereon, and its hooks 30 will rest within the grooves 10. Sidewall 5 is then swung over the end walls and is in turn overlapped by thewall 6 and the top resting thereon. The parts are locked in theircollapsed position by the hooks 24 engaging eyes 23. It will be seenthat when the crate is folded in this manner it occupies the minimumspace. The device can be quickly set up by reversing the operation abovedescribed.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention. but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right tomake such changes as -fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A colla sible crate comprising a base, end and side fl anges extendingfrom the base,said side flanges being higher than the end flanges, endand side walls hinged to the end and side flanges, respectively, saidend walls being adapted to fold inward upon the base and the side wallsadapted to fold inward over the end walls and to overlap, a top, linksconnecting the top with one of the side walls and constituting hinges,said top adapted to swing backward and lie flat upon the side walls towhich it is connected when the crate is collapsed, each of the sidewalls having recesses a jacent its ends, and grooves connecting with therecesses and extending from the up per edges of said walls, aretaining-plate secured over each recess, a spring-pressed leverpivotally mounted between each retainingplate and the end" wall of itsrecess, one end of the lever extending across one end of the groove,heads upon the levers and hooks extending inwardly from the end wallsand top to hold the crate together when collapsed. 3 5

In testimony whereof I have signed my i name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB ACKERMAN. Witnesses:

JOHN S. KRAMMEs, OswIN C. KEIPER.

